Tubular construction toy



Jan. 20, 1953 H. P. HUBBARD 2,625,769

TUBULAR CONSTRUCTION TOY Filed July 29, 1949 M s W II e a 1 IN V EN TOR. HAROL D I? HUBBARD www AGENT Patented Jan. 20, 1953 UNITED STATES OFFICE.

2,525,769.- ,TUBUIVSAR" CONSTRUCTIONTOY Hal-016:2; Hubbard-,Encinitas, Calif;

Application July. 29, 1949lS'erial No. 107,507:

8. Claims.

My invention relates to a-- toy construction means; more particularly foruse in constructing varioustoys which simulatevarious mechanicalvehicles, or the like, and the objects of my invention are:

First, to'provide'a toyconstruction meansof this class whichisadapted to-contribute greatly-- to the mechanical education of various persons,- and particularly children;

Second; to provide a" toy construction means of this class having tubular members of varying diameter, provided with holes and) set screws therein; whichmay be usedto construct a sur prisingly' greatvariety of' mechanical devices,

such as wheels, gears-, cranks, links and other motion-transmitting mechanisms;

Third, toprovide a toy construction meansofthis class which is particularly adapted for usein' producing scale models of certain carnival entertainment devices and transportation equip ment or the like;

Fourth, to provide atoyconstruction means of this class inwhich tubular members of a certain diameter. are provided. with spaced holes: alternately extending. therethrough transversely reelated: toeach. other,. whereby smaller: tubular;- members mayv be.v readily: insertedv through; said.

holes. in... angular relationship; to. eacnother; .pro;--

vidingrflexibility or. versatility in; the userof: the;

mechanism for constructing various: modelsof. different vehiclesor. machines;

Fifth, to provide. a toy construction meansof this class which promotes the. construction of veryrigid and reliable models; adapted to operate without undue maintenance attention; and

Sixth, to provide a toy construction meansof this class which is very simple and economicalof construction, efficient: in operation, and which will not readily,- deteriorate or get out of order. With these and other objects in view, as; will.-

appear hereinafter, my invention consists of oer-- construction means, and'Fig. 2 is an enlarged" fragmentary sectional view, taken from the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Similar characters of reference ref er: tosimilar parts and portions throughout the several viewsor the drawings:

The framemembers' l, 2, 3 and' l, axle 5, wheel tireli, wheel rim 1, wheels-pokest; Q- and lll, wheel rim supports l I, l2, l3; l4, l5 and I6, crank arms I! and I8, links l9, pin gears 20 and 2!; andthe gear aXles 22 and 2 .3', constitute the principal parts'andportions of my toy constructionmeans.

The-frame-members l and 2; shown-in-Fig. 1-

of thedrawings, are similar in construction, and are each usable forthe construction of a large variety of framework and mechanism, as; desired. The frame member I is a-hollow tubular member, providedwithholes lb extending-therethrough on a substantiallyhorizontal plane and spaced-relative-to each other. This frame member-l is also provided with a plurality of holes lc, which are axially" disposed atsubstantially ninety degrees tothe-axisof the holes lb and; placed intermediate the holeslb extending through the frame member I.

Thevertically' disposed-frame members 3 and 4- extend'through I corresponding openings in the horizontal frame membersland 2 similar-to the openings lc hereinbefore described. These frame members 3 and t are'engaged at" their oppositeends'by means-of set screws -la-and 2a; which are screw-threaded in the side walls ofthe frame members-l and- 2; as-shown in detail in Fig. 2 of It, will be notedthat the frame" member'3; asshown-in-Fig'. 2'0f',the drawings; is

the drawings.-

provided with-holes'twtherein, which-said screws la and-'Zwengage for rigidly connecting, the frame members I and 2- with the framemembers3 and l; Itis to be noted-however, that-the screws Ia and 2a may'engage the outer side of the frame members3 and} in the conventional manner of set screws and neednot be extended into the holes 3'arin the event intermediate positioning of the frame members I" and 2 is desiredata location betweenthe holes 3a longitudinally of the frame member 3 or corresponding openings in the frame member 4;

The" frame member I; intermediate the openings lb therein, and intermediate the openings I0, is provided with a plurality of tapped holes. le, in whichthe screws la maybe internally threaded for engagement" with various tubular members,

such as-theframemembers 3 and 4 for securing I thesame in rigid relationship with the frame member I, as desired. It is to be here noted that the'frame-members 2, 3 and dare provided with similar tapped holes, to be employed as set screw holes for securing various parts and mechanisms thereto.

The wheel tire 6 is a resilient band-shaped member, fitted around the wheel rim 1, whichis an-elongated=piece-of sheetmetal, overlapped the rim supports II to IE, inclusive, which are tubular members of slightly larger diameter,

through which the wheel spokes '8, 9 and l; 7 extend. These rim supports II to H5, inclusive,

are provided with set screws for fixing the same on the wheel spokes 8, 9 and |0, -provi din g ad- I, justable Supports for the wheel rim 1, surrounded 7 The axle '5 is 511 by the resilient wheel tire 6. extended through the lower end of the axle supports 5b, which are secured to the lower frame member 2 by means of a set screw common to the frame member 2, as hereinbefore described.

The crank arm I1 is fixed to the axle 5 by means of the set screw Ho, and pivotally secured to the crank arm [1 near its one end by means of the screw 19a is the link I9, which is pivotally secured at its opposite end by means of the screw l8a to the crank arm I8, which is fixed to the gear axle 22. The central spoke 21a. of the pin gear 2! is fitted over the axle 22, and secured thereon by means of a conventional set screw similar to the screw 5a hereinbefore described. Q

The pin gear 2| is provided with spokes 2|b and 2lc, parallel to the spoke 2Ia, through which the lateral spokes 2| d, 2le, MI and 2lg extend. On the outer ends of all of the spokes of the pin gear 2| are hollow tubular gear pin members, substantially larger in diameter than the hereinbefore mentioned spokes of the gear 2|, all of which are secured thereon by set screws. It is to be noted that the spokes of the gear 2| are adjustable and fixed together by means of set screws for supporting the pin gear members 21h in certain spaced relationship to each other in an arcuate row. The pin gear members 2lh are engageable with the pin gear members a, which are fitted to the spokes 28b, 20c and 2011 by set screws, all as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The gear spoke 200 is fixed to the gear axle 23, which is revolubly mounted and extended through the frame member I.

It is to be noted that Fig. 1 of the drawings is a side elevational view of a toy, and that the toy includes two wheels, one on each side,

and a pair of the frame members I and a pair of the frame members 2, so that opposite ends of the gear axles 22 and 23 are supported at opposite sides of the frame composed of the secondary frame members I and 2, and the axle 5 is also supported at its opposite ends adjacent the two wheels, each composed of a tire 6, rim 1, and supporting spokes, 3, 9 and I0. Pivoted to the forward end of the frame members 2 is a drawbar 24, which may be used in towing the toy, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The operation of the toy constructed of my toy construction means as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings is substantially as follows:

When the toy is towed by the drawbar 24, the tires 6, bearing on the horizontal surface, cause the supporting wheels to rotate, which turns the crank arm 11, actuating the links 19,

which rotates the axle 22 by means of the crank arm [8, causing the rotation of the pin gear 2| and rotational engagement of the pin gear 28 therewith.

In general, in the operation of my toy construction means, various models and types of toys may be made, which simulate various machines and vehicles or the like. Construction of toys employing my 'toy construction means afiords educational experiences for children and grown-ups, and provides various toys of very durable character.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement-ofparts-and portions, I do not Wish to be limitedtothis particular construction, combin'a'tidh' 'andarrangement, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: Y r

1. In a toy construction means, pin gears, including a plurality of tubular spokes, some of said tubular spokes extending transversely through the other tubular spokes, and tubular gear pins on the extending ends of said spokes, arranged in an, arcuate row, having their axes transversely of said spokes.

2. 'In a toy construction means, a wheel, comprising a resilient tire, a sheet metal rim having its opposite ends overlapped relative to each other internally of said resilient tire, rim supporting members of tubular form engaging the inner side of said rim, and tubular spokes supporting said rim-supporting members at their opposite ends, some of, said spokes extending transversely through other of said spokes.

3. In a toy construction means, a wheel, comprising a resilient tire, a sheet metal rim having its opposite ends overlapped relative to each other internally of said resilient tire, rim supporting members of tubular form engaging the inner side of said rim, and tubular spokes supporting said rim-supporting members at their opposite ends, some of said spokes extending transversely'through other of said spokes, a middle spoke having an axle opening therein, and an axle extending therethrough.

4. In a toy construction means, a pin gear including a plurality of tubular spokes, some of said spokes extending traversely through another spoke, and tubular gear pins on the extending ends of said spokes, said gear pins being arranged in an arcuate row and having their axis traversely of said spokes.

5. In a toy construction means, a pin gear including a diametrically positioned spoke, other spokes extending traversely through said diametrical spoke, and tubular gear pins on the extending ends of said spokes, said gear pins being arranged in an arcuate row and having their axis traversely of said spokes.

6. In a toy construction means, a wheel comprising a circular rim, rim supporting members of tubular. form engaging the inner side of said rim, and tubular spokes having opposite ends supporting said members, some of said spokes extending traversely through another spoke.

7. In a toyconstruction means, a wheel comprising a circular rim, a tubular rim supporting member having cylindrical sides. engaging the inner side of said rim, and spokes having opposite ends entering and supporting said member, some of said spokes extending traversely through another spoke.

8. In a toy construction set, a wheel comprising a circular rim, rim supporting members engaging the inner side of said rim, tubular spokes having opposite ends supporting said members, one of said spokes extending diagonally with respect to said rim, other spokes extending traversely through said diagonal spoke, an axle extending through and aflixed to said diagonal spoke, a tubular crank arm affixed to said axle, and a tubular link rotatably connected to said crank arm.

HAROLD P. HUBBARD.

6 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,009,508 Guthrie Nov. 21, 1911 1,205,101 Meyer Nov. 14, 1916 1,309,240 Chappuis July 8, 1919 1,420,670 Schuette June 27, 1922 1,661,687 Benjamin Mar. 6, 1928 1,667,256 Herrschaft Apr. 24, 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 9,150 Great Britain 1914 108,954 Switzerland May 16, 1925 

